Improvement in automatic hatchway-protectors



' STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JOHN B. WARING AND .ioHNw. wILsoN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC HATCHWAV-PROTECTORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 133,345, dated November26, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN B. WARING and JOHN W. WILSON, both of New Yorkcity and State, have invented certain Improvements relating to AutomaticHatchways, of which the following is a specification:

The invention is intended for use inbuildin gs in connection withelevators operated by steam or other power. As the elevator is raisedandlowered the hatchways in the several floors are automatically opened andclosed. The hatches turn on hinges, and are operated automatically bythe approach of the elevator-car either from below or above.

The following is a description of what we consider the best means ofcarrying out the invention. 1

The accompanying drawing forms a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the car and framing, with anelevation of the mechanism for operating the hatches. The strong linesshow the car just rising to complete the elevation of the hatch, whiledotted lines show the car at a higher elevation. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection at right angles to the last, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section.

Similar letters of referenceindicate likeparts in all the figures.

A A, &o., are stout uprights, two of which are grooved to guide the car,as represented. B is the car, and b B are the guiding-wheels, travelingin the grooves a in the uprights A. (l is the hoisting-rope or wirecable, which it will be understood is operated by any ordinary orsuitable means to hoist and lower the car.

The elevator-car B may traverse through as many floors as may bedesired, and all or only a portion may be provided with hatchwaysoperated in the manner here shown. We have represented but one floor asprovided with our improved means of operating the hatches.

M is a leaf or section of the hatch, turning on stout hinges m. It willbe understood that there may be an opposite leaf operated in a preciselysimilar manner, or any other, if preferred. When the hatchway is smallthe single leaf M may be made large enough to extend quite across andprotect the entire hatch. M is a beveled segment fixed firmly on oneedge of the leaf M, and meshes into another segment, L, which is fixedon a peculiarly-bent rod, K, mounted in fixed bearings, and serving bothas a shaft and as a means of receiving motion from the descent of thecar B. We will .designate certain portions of the part K, as K K, etc.The portion K is bent at right angles to the general direction of thepart K, considered as a shaft. The part K is similarly bent at rightangles, but it stands in a plane differing about ninety degrees fromthat of the bend K Between the parts K and K is a helically-bentportion, K The entire part K K K K may be formed in one stout piece ofwrought or cast iron. Near the upper bearing of the piece K K &c., ismounted a stout coiled spring, I, exerting a force tending to close theleaf M of the hatch. At another .point is mounted another spring, whichmay be of about the same strength or force, marked J, the tendency ofwhich is to raise or to open the leaf M. The joint effect of the twosprings I and J is to tend to hold the leaf M at an inclination of aboutforty-five degrees. The weight of the leaf will, however, overcome thistendency when it is permitted to, and will hold the leaf in the closedposition.

The action of the cage or car B in rising is of the ordinary character.It strikes the under face of the leaf M either directly or through theintervention of a lever or spring, and causes it to rise to its fullopen position. In doing so it turns the piece K, and as the cage or carB rises through the hatchway it commences to rub against the lower endof the bent portion K and holds the hatch in its open position. Aftercompletely passing the leaf M the further elevation of the car B allowsthe leaf to gradually sink to its closed position, the shaft K andits'adjuncts turning slowly as it is allowed by the rise of the car.

When the car in its descent presents its rubbin g corner against theupper end of the curved portion K it acts forcibly to turn the shaft K,and thus, by means of the gearing L and M, to raise the leaf M. As thecar is lowered it acts successively against the lower points on thehelically-curved portion K and when it has arrived opposite thehorizontal bend K the shaft K has been turned a quarter revolution, andthe leaf M is wide open so as to allow the car to freely descend. Sosoon as the car has passed down the leaf M closes again.

The functions of the springs I and J are important. When the leaf M isfully closed the action of the springs tends to aid the mechanism inlifting it or in commencing to lift it. When the leaf M is fully openedthe action of the springs-and especially of the spring 1-- tends toclose it. As soon as the car rises or sinks sufficiently to commence toliberate the leaf M the spring I inclines the said leaf to close, and assoon as it has been fairly thrust out of its perpendicular positiongravity commences to operate to continue the closing in the obviousmanner.

When the weight of the leaf M is very great it may be advisable topartially balance it by extending a heavy-loaded arm past the line ofits axis in the opposite direction, cutting, of

. course, a corresponding notch in the floor to allow it to traversethrough it.

There may be one or more rollers or analogous anti-friction devices onthe car to lessen the friction between itself and the part K as alsobetween itself and the under face of the leaf M.

WVe claim as our invention- 1. The piece K K K K, in combination with,the leaf M and car '13, as and forthe purpose herein set forth.

2. In combination with the above, the partially-balanced spring J,tending to aid in lifting the leaf M,'as specified.

3. The spring I, in combination with the piece K K leaf M, and car 13,arranged as shown, and serving to commence the closing motion of thehatch, as herein specified.

4. The entire combination of the car B and its guiding and operatingmeans, the leaf M i Witnesses:

. ARNOLD HORMANN,

UHAs. ROETTIG.

